Sunday, April 16, 2017

Sunday: Easter

Happy Easter!Easter is the essential Christian event. Every aspect of the Christian church hinges on Christ's resurrection.Today's
gospel is extremely well written, filled with little particulars (the
woman hesitant to enter the tomb, Peter being outrun to the tomb, the
meticulous arrangement of the burial cloths, the assumption that the
body was stolen--after the assumption by the Pharisees that the
apostles would steal it)--all giving misdirection and specificity to
what becomes the philosophical earthquake of all time.Yet how
does this all hinge? Hearsay? The interpretation of a sacred book?
Amulets and magic rites? No. Amazingly it hinges on us.By the
time Christ rises, we know all the players. We even have some insights
about them. They are not revolutionaries, not mystics and, while
seemingly sincere, they are not special. They are relatively normal
working folks with responsibilities and, probably, annoyed families. As
seen by their behavior during the Passion, they are not fully aware of
what is happening. Nor are they particularly brave. Yet after this
crisis where their leader is tortured and killed they somehow emerge as
philosopher and martyrs. They all, to a man, experience a
mind-changing, life-changing event. Scattered and leaderless they raise a
religious movement that challenges everything in its time and,
eventually, forces mighty Rome to adapt.Christ performed the
great, unarguable miracle. It was the behavior of men, people, who
confirmed and developed it. No leap of faith was necessary. They were
convinced and changed. Then they convinced and changed the world.